TOURS ATTRACTIONS BEAUTY POINT

The mystical seahorse has always been a source of immense attraction. However, through fishing and habitat destruction, their numbers globally have dwindled. Seahorse World at Beauty Point, Northern Tasmania, is a unique facility designed to both conserve this creature, and to provide an excellent tourism and educational experience.

In the past ten years Seahorse World, has become a significant regional attraction for Northern Tasmania attracting over 300,000 visitors and employing between 14 - 19 local staff. Seahorse World, is a wonderful illustration of both business and environmental achievement.

Tasmanian Tourism Awards Finalist 2013 and 2014

Goaty Hill Wines is located in the picturesque West Tamar region north of Launceston, Tasmania. As the vineyard has now reached its full potential, partners in Goaty Hill Wines decided to launch a wine label that encapsulated their passion for quality and enjoyment of fine Tasmanian wine. In considering a name for their label, partners turned to their vineyard for inspiration. A notable landmark on the property includes a steep and rocky hill that offers panoramic views of the region. A journey to the top is well worth the effort. This hill is locally known as Goaty Hill. Goaty Hill Wines includes on their label the term 'Educated Enjoyment.' Partners in Goaty Hill Wines include six friends from two families who together were determined to build something for the future while having fun. Goaty Hill Wines invites you to also enjoy the journey of learning about, sharing in and enjoying fine Tasmanian wine. Light lunches are available daily - vineyard platters, cheese plates and tea and coffee. Vineyard tours are available, please call to book prior to arrival.

The Bass and Flinders Centre is centrally located in George Town on Tasmania's Tamar River. In 1798, the explorers Bass and Flinders were dispatched to 'Van Diemen's Land' to ascertain if Tasmania was an island or not. They sailed with a crew of eight in Her Majesty's Colonial Sloop Norfolk right into the Tamar River and anchored off what is now George Town. In 1998, Bern Cuthbertson in the replica Norfolk, re-enacted the Bass and Flinders journey. Like Bass and Flinders, Bern established a relationship with George Town and asked if she could be berthed on the banks of the Tamar at George Town. Bern and his team of volunteers in Hobart constructed the replica Norfolk. The hull is Huon Pine and the mast and deck are made out of Celery Top Pine. Not a screw or a nail was used - trunnel's or treenails hold the vessel together. The Bass and Flinders Centre is now the home of the replica sloop 'Norfolk', together with the 'Elizabeth', a replica of the whale boat rowed by James Kelly around Tasmania; the ex-naval cutter 'Kenneth Dickenson'; two old racing 'fours'; a banana boat surfboard and the gentle Melanie and many more wooden boats.

Coffee Shop open 7 days!

Gem and Stone Creations located at Beaconsfield specialises in Tasmanian gemstones. This includes a wide range of local minerals, crystals, lapidary material (petrified manfern) and gemstone carvings. Jewellery repairs and cleaning are available as well as pearl and bead re-threading and gemstones cut and polished. Faceted stones and opals, lapidary supplies, jewellery, handmade gifts in stone and gems can also be found at Gem and Stone Creations. There is also a kid's corner for the junior collector. Beaconsfield is 40 kilometres (24 miles) north-west of Launceston and 240 kilometres (150 miles) north of Hobart. Travelling time from Launceston is approximately 30-minutes.

The Low Head Foghorn, at the mouth of the Tamar River, is a unique piece of Tasmania's maritime history. The Foghorn was installed in 1929 and decommissioned in 1973. It was restored in early 2000 by a group of volunteers and is sounded each Sunday at noon. It is the only operational G-type diaphone in the world. The building also houses a very rare Gardner kerosene engine. Enjoy the beautiful sea views from the headland and feel free to have a chat with the volunteers in attendance every Sunday at noon. Under ideal conditions the Foghorn can be heard approximately 20 kilometres out to sea. Hearing protection is advised. Come and join us on Good Friday, the Foghorn is sounded as the leading yachts in the Three Peaks Race enter Bass Strait. The associated Lighthouse was built in 1888, replacing the original 1833 convict-built structure. With an elevation of 43 metres, it dominates the headland. Nearby there is the Low Head Pilot Station, being the first pilot station to operate in Australia. Commencing in 1805, it continues to provide pilotage for visiting ships. You can visit the Maritime Museum and a have a light meal at the café.

Platypus House offers the opportunity to view live platypuses and echidnas at Beauty Point, Tasmania. Marvel at these unique animals in daylight conditions in an indoor setting. Tasmanian platypuses and echidnas are unique and cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. You are guaranteed to see both these spectacular egg-laying mammals actively feeding and playing during the guided tour. The tour begins with viewing platypuses in platypus ponds before walking through the echidna garden to see echidnas foraging in a bushland setting. The interpretation centre explains the biology of both mammals. As well as the 35-minute tour, you can view a platypus film in the theatrette, browse through the information centre, purchase from the gift shop and enjoy a coffee from the café overlooking the Tamar River. Japanese and Chinese language information sheets are available. Platypus House has been established to advance both the science and community awareness of these two unique animals. Platypus House sits on the western banks of the Tamar River at Beauty Point, about 40-minutes' drive north of Launceston (44 kilometres/27 miles).

Tamar Valley Art Shack is a working art studio and gallery at Clarence Point, Northern Tasmania. The building was originally constructed as a beach house and it rests on the edge of the Tamar River. A unique waterfront setting. With its combination of proximity to water and the clarity of natural light, the Art Shack's surrounds are a continuing source of inspiration for the owner/artist Dan Villiers. Light and water form continuing themes throughout his work. You can talk with Dan about how he selects his subjects, see how he prepares his work, and discuss other aspects of art technique. See him at work in his studio, which is part of this charming beach inspired art gallery, and find art, ceramics and craft by other Tasmanian artisans. This is not a formal gallery in a hushed environment. Echoing its origins as a family beach house, you will find large airy rooms flooded with sunshine. Step outside into a naturally landscaped seaside garden. Relax in and around the gallery, and share in the simplicity and pleasure of art and life at the waterside. Clarence Point is a 52 minute drive (57 kilometres / 35 miles) North-West of Launceston.

The Watch House at George Town in Northern Tasmania is the historic old Gaol site. The Watch House features a range of display's conveying the regions rich history. The present building was built in 1843 and was reopened in 2004 as part of George Town's Bicentenary of European settlement. It features a wonderful model village which allows visitors to imagine what early nineteenth century life was like in George Town. The acclaimed 'Departures & Arrivals' display describes the Female Factories and links to the convict experience. Visitors can enter a primitive cell to get an idea of the tough life of prisoners awaiting trial. There are changing displays featuring the best in Tasmanian arts and crafts. The Community History Room contains a wealth of local information for historians and those researching their ancestry. Whether you are a local, former resident or first-time visitor to George Town, you are sure to find something of interest at The Watch House.

The George Town to Low Head Walking and Cycling Trail follows the River Tamar. Suitable for walkers, runners and cyclists, this free and easily accessible trail was opened in 2011 and was designed to be used by people of all abilities. It is 6 kilometres in length and begins at York Cove in George Town. Cycling is one of the most enjoyable ways to experience the trail, and bicycle hire is available from the George Town Visitor Information Centre for use on the trail and around the George Town area. The trail links together key historical sites and areas of natural beauty and wildlife interest, such as Lagoon Bay, York Cove, Windmill Point and the Low Head Pilot Station. You will learn lots along the way about Tasmanian wildlife, colonial and convict history and how Tasmania communicates with the rest of the world. Did you know that where the River Tamar meets the sea is one of the deepest points of the entire Bass Strait? This makes it popular for shipping and also highly rich in biodiversity, providing you with plenty to see whether it be marine vessels or wildlife.

Forty minutes along the East Tamar Highway from Launceston you will find one of Australia's most dramatically located light houses and its oldest pilot station, established in 1806. The Low Head Pilot Station Museum oozes old world ambience and tells the story of the Port of Launceston. Once Australia's third busiest port, its merchants controlled whaling and sealing along the south coast of Australia. Our volunteers will tell you the story of the pilot station: how our first pilot became a pirate; and how our second harbour master turned to bushranging, and got away with it. Discover the treacherous Tamar River with its dangerous reefs and strong currents. See the relics of the age of sail and steam. Visit the room from which the telegrams were transmitted by the first submarine telegraph cable in the southern hemisphere. Afterwards, walk around the grounds of the station past the other heritage buildings. Grab a bite from the Coxswain's Cottage Café and watch the pilot boat leave to guide ships through the dangerous entrance to the river. Later visit the Low Head Light House. If visiting on a Sunday, be at the lighthouse at noon to hear Australia's only regularly sounding fog horn.

Visit Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre and lose yourself in history. Play with treasures from the past and embark on a historical journey to a place where life is simple. The time when machinery and hard labour were how 'things got done', where genuine smiles welcome you and strangers take time to chat. At the Beaconsfield Mine and Heritage Centre Tasmanian history is alive, and gold is under your feet... Our interpretive displays showcase the Mine Rescue of Brant Webb and Todd Russell. Many of the pieces in the centre are there for your enjoyment, displays to touch, buttons to push, leavers to pull, tunnels to crawl through and animals to search for. Lose yourself in the nostalgia, chat with locals, experience the excitement and realities of the elusive hunt for gold. View the Beaconsfield mine in a different light in the 3D digitalized model, interactive screens and holograms to explore the depths of an underground mine from within the museum. The hologram image of Todd Russell greets you to explain the miners' lingo. The display has mastered the use of sight, sound and emotion - this is one attraction not to be missed. Accolades: 2009, 2010 and 2011 Winner Best 'Heritage and Cultural Tourism' Award

George Town Golf Club is a nine-hole course located in George Town, Northern Tasmania. A tough opening hole is your introduction to this challenging par 68 course. With 18 tees adding variation to the second nine, you can also enjoy scenic views of the Tamar River. This well maintained course provides for an enjoyable round and challenges well-suited to new golfers through to experienced players. George Town can claim to be one of the earliest European settlements in Tasmania. While you are in the area, visit the Old Watch House Museum (circa 1843) and The Grove, an elegant stone house built around 1829. Just five kilometres north of George Town you will find Low Head, a sheltered harbour which is now a classified historic town. Visit the pilot station (the oldest in Australia, completed in 1835) which houses a maritime museum where you can find memorabilia salvaged from the many shipwrecks on the north coast as well as some interesting, early diving equipment. George Town Golf Course is approximately 40 minutes' drive (53 kilometres/33 miles) from Launceston.

Loira Vines nestled in the West Tamar Valley, Tasmania, is a small family run boutique vineyard.

We have a selection of wines for tasting which include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Lady in Pink. Loira Vines is a working vineyard with a chance to experience first-hand the grape production process.

Our cellar door is open every day from 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. throughout summer. Loira Vines is set amidst beautiful gardens centred around a lake with a resident, elusive platypus, native hens and various bird species.

Loira Vines is proud to be a member of the Tamar Valley Wine Route comprising over 30 different vineyards.

Just a short drive from Launceston, Holm Oak is one of Tasmania's family owned hidden treasures, with a 100% hands on philosophy. Holm Oak is one of the few family owned wineries in Tasmania who produce and make their own wine on site with husband and wife team Tim (viticulturist) and Rebecca (winemaker) Duffy growing the fruit and making the wine.

Drop in for a tasting of our extensive range of wines and chances are you'll be joined by the winemaker or one of the family.

The Rowella district and Holm Oak are on the Tamar Valley Wine Route and near the spectacular Batman Bridge. It allows you to make a round trip from Launceston on both banks of the Tamar River.

Holm Oak Vineyard is approximately 45-minutes' drive (48 kilometers/30 miles) from Launceston.